TIIK ANCIKNT FKOPLKS. 57 



wall and enclosed with masonry but adults were buried 

 in cemeteries. Burial under the floors was practised 

 in Gahsteo Basin and on the upper Gila but lower on 

 that stream cremation and urn burial of the ashes as 

 well as house burial was the custom followed. 



Religion. 



We know little of the rehgious practices in prehistoric 

 times. There are many objects which may with 

 reason be supposed to have been ceremonial in their 

 use. In the Rio Grande region are found large stone 

 images that have long been supposed to be idols. Mr. 

 N. C. Nelson, w^hile excavating Pueblo Largo ruin in 

 Galisteo Valley, found a stone image before which on a 

 raised adobe platform w^ere several pottery vessels and 

 queer-shaped stones. These objects and their arrange- 

 ment certainly present an early type of the altar still 

 in use among the Pueblo Indians. 



